Estimating Party Walls

Party Walls and Contact Walls

The BidMagic construction estimating software program includes special handling for walls that are between living units or between an addition and the existing structure.

If the Party/Contact Walls fields are locked, their length will be computed using the widest width, the number of units and the contact length. If you unlock the fields, you can enter your own quantity for the total length of party and contact walls on each story.

When computing the length of party and contact walls, start by measuring the total length of any walls that will be finished on only one side and not exposed to the outdoors.

NOTE: This occurs on walls that are in contact with an adjoining building, another unit in the same multi-unit project, or the existing building in an addition.

For new construction of townhouses, enter the length of party walls between units. Each party wall should be counted twice --once for each side.

NOTE: In new single-unit buildings or in 'stacked' multi-unit projects, there will be no party walls.

For an addition in a single-unit building, enter the length of existing wall that will remain at the junction between the addition and the existing building.

NOTE: If adding a new unit against an existing unit, count the entire contact length once.

For an addition in a multi-unit building, include the length of any new party walls between units. If adding one unit, count the new party wall once (since you are only working on one side). If adding more than one new unit with a new party wall between them, count the new party wall twice --once for each side.

For a gut/rehab project, include the total length of all party walls that will be worked on in some form--whether they are getting new framing, new wallboard or new trim.